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The Gingerbread City

The Museum of Architecture is pleased to announce the second edition of its
successful Gingerbread City project, a fundraising exhibition that brings together
architects, urban planners and landscape designers to design a city made entirely of
gingerbread. Returning to the museum district in South Kensington from 6 until 22
December 2017, where last year’s edition attracted over 16,000 visitors, the exhibition

both local and international visitors for a festive exploration of architecture and design.
Alongside the exhibition, the Museum of Architecture will also be running family
gingerbread house-making workshops. This year, a number of prominent architecture
practices have joined the project, among which: Zaha Hadid Architects, Foster and
Partners, Ian Ritchie Architects, Mae, MaccreanorLavington Architects, Featherstone
Young, RCKa and Carl Turner Architects.

The aim of The Gingerbread City is to create an imaginary city that would invite the
general public to engage in a playful and unusual way with contemporary architecture
and design. Based on a masterplan developed by Tibbalds Planning and Urban
Design, the imaginary gingerbread city seeks to open discussions about the way
architecture impacts the way we live and work, drawing on contemporary discussions
about what makes a healthy city. The exhibition hopes to shape an engaging platform
that can serve as an introduction to broader discussions about architecture and
urbanism today. The museum’s director, Melissa Woolford states: “At the Museum of
Architecture, we are working to create a positive relationship between people and their
city. Through The Gingerbread City, we want to inspire people to care about how their
city is taking shape and what impact the built environment has on the way they live.”

Photo by Luke Hayes

Extending the discussion beyond the exhibition itself, members of the general public
will be able to join family gingerbread house-making workshops where they can learn
more about designing buildings and develop creative design skills over the course of
a festive afternoon. For the workshops, MoA will be providing visitors with materials to
build and decorate their own gingerbread house that will draw inspiration from the rich
design and architecture display of the exhibition itself. The workshops are part of a
broader mission for the museum to bridge the gap between the architecture discipline
and the general public.

In the words of Melissa Woolford, “Gingerbread City is a way for us to bring people
who otherwise might not engage with city design and get them involved in the
conversation. Whether it is children learning about various building types to adults
sharing new ideas about creating healthier spaces, we want to take this opportunity to
get people excited about architecture and empower them with knowledge to bring into
their everyday lives.”

Photo by Luke Hayes

For The Gingerbread City exhibition, each participating architecture practice is invited
to select a plot on the city – that includes landmark buildings such as a museum, town
hall, bridge, school, stadium, as well as housing and landscape sites – and respond
to the brief set by Tibbalds. Architects and designers will then bake and build their
gingerbread designs to be included in the exhibition. MoA will give three prizes for the
best designs, selected by two expert committees as well as the public vote.

The new edition of The Gingerbread City builds on from last year’s successful project
that saw over 60 architects – Foster and Partners, Carl Turner, vPPR, Mae, Michaelis
Boyd, Hopkins, Finkernagel Ross, and many more – design unconventional and
elaborate buildings made entirely out of gingerbread. Last year’s winners were: NBBJ,
Platform 5 Architects, Foster and Partners.

Photo by Luke Hayes

GINGERBREAD
CITY

While the Gingerbread City serves to present the extraordinary richness of
contemporary architecture to the general public, it is also an important income stream
for the charity’s year-long programme of events that aim to help the public better
engage with architecture. MoA’s thematic programming presents a series of evening
panel discussions about key topics facing architecture and design and their impact on
the society at large. The current programme, ‘Undervalued’, explores the economics

models in urban development. The Gingerbread City supports MoA’s philosophy of
creating unconventional ways for the public to better engage with architecture, whilst
challenging architects to explore new opportunities for innovation.

Tickets for the exhibition and workshops are on-sale now, and early booking is
advised.

Families can make their own gingerbread house by signing up for MoA’s fun family
workshops taking place from the 9-22 December.
Morning: 10:30am - 12:00pm
Mid day: 1:00pm - 2:30pm

Afternoon: 3:30pm - 5:00pm

Cost: £30/house (incl VAT)
All children must be accompanied by an adult for the duration of the workshop.
Maximum two children per adult as adults will be needed to help hold the gingerbread
in place while the icing sets.

The Workshops include:
Ready made gingerbread, cookies, icing and sweets to make one house per child for
to take home.